Aardvark Ranch

2012-02-01T12:21:00.000-05:00

Another one of those wet foggy winter days we've come to know.

2011-10-06T21:15:00.000-04:00

A star is born!

2011-09-05T18:11:00.001-04:00

Cape Spear, Newfoundland

Finally, some fog on our last day.

2011-09-04T08:16:00.002-04:00

After watching the 2 ferries go back and forth to Bell Island every 20 minutes, we finally decided to go check out what was over there. In particular, I was interested in the cliffs at the far end of the island.

Other than the beach and landing area for the ferry, everything else is on top of the plateau.

There is no easy way to describe the height of these cliffs when you're standing ten feet from the edge. I threw a rock out from where Lasha and Tim are standing and I couldn't see it hit the water.

2011-09-02T21:56:00.001-04:00

Newfoundland Sunsets

2011-08-31T06:55:00.002-04:00

Basking in California sunshine, the lighthouse at Ferryland (settled a gajillion years ago) Newfoundland was actually typical of the scenary we saw around the province...spectacular!

2011-08-29T21:42:00.002-04:00

Funky Dory doing their sound check at The Ship, Newfoundlands oldest continously operating pub. We walked in on their 10th anniversary gig but the real show doesn't start til 11 (to 3 am).

They take their artistic identity seriously in Newfoundland.

2011-08-26T11:19:00.001-04:00

St. Johns from the top of Signal Hill.

2011-08-24T12:37:00.001-04:00

We're just back from five days in Portugal Cove, Nfld. The first four days we had weather like southern California but we missed the whales. Two weeks ago, there were 12 to 15 every morning in the cove. That's Bell Island, about ten minutes away by ferry. The cliffs are spectacular....and scary.

2011-08-06T09:34:00.000-04:00

How to stay cool in hot, humid weather, brought to you by Mr. Squirrel.

2011-07-30T13:06:00.000-04:00

Capturing starlight

2011-07-29T17:13:00.000-04:00

As the humidity settles in for the weekend.......aaahhhhh!!!!
If only I was there.

2011-07-26T20:07:00.000-04:00

Any guesses where this was taken.....recently?

2011-06-25T13:37:00.003-04:00

The Vice and the Wolfman pause for a look at the natural beauty along the Osgoode Trail, a reclaimed rail line south of Ottawa. Unfortunately, at about the 20 km mark we ran into a wall of rain that forced us back to cover and sustenance. In total, we covered 50 kms, the last 5 in a monsoon

2011-06-11T14:43:00.002-04:00

They are back!!! Finally, a good clamatis year.

2011-05-23T13:35:00.002-04:00

The Chateauguay River, downstream from the battle site of the same name, in the town of Mercier.

This Great Blue Heron was standing in the rain waiting for something.

2011-05-11T06:51:00.000-04:00

Ahhhhh, reflection.

2011-05-09T18:54:00.001-04:00

Finally, some afternoon colour in the garden. The tulips are certainly late this year.

2011-05-09T13:32:00.000-04:00

As more and more land is developed for housing tracts outside the city, we are seeing more and more coyotes within the city greenspace.

2011-05-08T09:04:00.005-04:00

A brief but violent windstorm last week resulted in many trees blowing over. This one landed on the transformer pole three yards down resulting in a four hour power outage for our little block.

How'd you like to do this for a living?

TIMBERRRRRR!!!!!

2011-03-28T15:19:00.004-04:00

I hear from a highly disreputable source that the Oxford Millbillies are touring California au bicyclette in a north to south direction. I also hear its wet, windy and cold as hell at the northern end.

Here's what it looks like at the southern end of their trek. I would have started at this end and worked my way north but then, I would have rented a convertible and done it that way.

2011-03-06T13:45:00.000-05:00

The mighty fine folks of the 15th annual Lahr Reunion Hockey Team
and Hooter Girls Extravaganza.

2011-02-28T18:21:00.000-05:00

Our production floor, Saturday morning, after the main water line into the building burst. It had just been repaired on Friday....NOT!! We'll be back up and running on Wednesday, believe it or not.

2011-02-14T06:51:00.000-05:00

Good luck Egypt! It's a nice place to visit.

2011-02-12T09:38:00.000-05:00

I like the blue sky and obvious warm temperatures in this picture, a lovely contrast to what I see out the window this morning.

2011-02-11T20:03:00.001-05:00

OK! OK!

I finally got my computer fixed and here's a couple of backyard shots just for Rob.

2010-12-25T18:57:00.000-05:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS 2011
FROM MY FAMILY TO YOURS!

2010-11-18T08:19:00.001-05:00

I gotta say it, but the recent inactivity on this site is a tad sad. And so was continually looking at the previous drab photo for so long. Sorry Doc.

2010-09-25T11:27:00.000-04:00

Nice day for walking in the woods and grabbing as many rays of available sunlight as possible. Wasn't it summer just a couple of weeks ago??

2010-07-30T08:41:00.007-04:00

It was a dark and stormy night at the Great northern cabana.

The danger was lurking in the wood shed.

YIKES!!!Why is my lip swollen and burning?

Could it be the margaritas??? Did you try to blow up a bus?Or could it be that you just disturbed these little critters? As a site dedicated to everlasting peace and harmony among all creatures, I won't show what happened to these little squatters as Rob evicted them.

2010-07-12T17:17:00.001-04:00

Funny the people you run into in the crowd at these events.

John Hiatt at last nights Bluesfest. He gave a great show in front of a full crowd despite the noise coming from the Rush show at the other end of the festival.

2010-07-04T19:01:00.000-04:00

It's so hot in Ottawa today, this squirrel has been flaked out on this branch in the back yard for the last half hour. 31C in the shade and it's 7 PM.

2010-06-11T15:09:00.000-04:00

This rose is for Marsha to celebrate her honorary doctorate. Congratulations on a well deserved award. Much love, big sister.

2010-06-05T11:20:00.000-04:00

My Clamatis blossomed in magical fashion again this year. Unfortunately, within a week all the blossoms were gone. I suspect it was the short heat wave we had or maybe the recent cooling.

2010-03-21T10:58:00.000-04:00

I'm posting this in the hope that we have a quick return to the California-like weather we've been having (this pic from Laguna Niguel, 3 weeks ago)

2010-03-09T07:21:00.000-05:00

The view off the back deck at Torrey Pines Municipal Golf Course, San Diego. Next time we go to play.

2010-03-07T13:16:00.002-05:00

The gang that still can't shoot straight

Some of the strange people I had the good fortune to spend this weekend with. They wanted to send a message to a special someone who missed the weekends' festivities because of duty abroad. The dressing room was not the same without his fragrant contribution.

2010-03-01T19:46:00.001-05:00

The beach at La Jolla, California.....ahhhh, warm ocean breezes. The water's bloody cold but beautiful nonetheless. The surfers were out in the 3 foot waves. I don't get it. they never stay up for more than a minute.

2010-02-28T17:33:00.003-05:00

Jean and I left Ottawa last Saturday in this,

and flew to southern California. I love a place where you can grow your own grapefruit in the back yard.

2010-01-06T20:10:00.000-05:00

Jean surprised me big time with an electric acoustic Washburn guitar for Christmas. Rob's already taught me enough that my fingers are numb from my dedicated practice schedule of at least 15 minutes or first blood every night.

2009-12-12T15:03:00.004-05:00

Jean's brother Mike was a torch bearer today in Gatineau as part of the Olympic Torch run. It was minus 5 in beautiful sunshine and while the crowds were sparse along this part of the route, Mike said the final stretch before crossing over to Ottawa was lined with thousands of people.

We got to examine the torch at lunch afterwards. It's a beautiful design (well done Bombardier) with a very clever propane burner designed to stay lit while running.

Jean was absolutely beaming with pride during the whole ceremony and I know, for Mike, it was all very, very special.

2009-11-01T08:19:00.002-05:00

Up an hour early this morning(duh) and I got thinking how nice it would be to go sit in the sun somewhere and watch the paint peel. Ahhhh, it's going to be one of those days...wait a minute...leafs in the eavestrough, tons of leafs! It's a another bad day for Leafs.

2009-10-28T22:50:00.001-04:00

We had a surprise in the back yard this evening... a pair of huge wild turkeys. That is until the cat took a run at this one, chasing them both up into the oak tree.

2009-09-28T20:07:00.003-04:00

The clamatis were few and far between this year. The whites, so plentiful for months last season were out sparsely for a week this year. These reds only showed in late August after a few weeks of nice weather.

It's been a busy late summer with a new arbor to cover the deck and provide some shelter from the summer rains.

Now to get rid of that white lattice. I'm a plastics guy but not on my deck please! I love the smell of the cedar in the rain.

2009-08-11T21:36:00.001-04:00

This hot little Cobra was sitting across the street from the outrageous Porsche.

2009-08-09T22:32:00.000-04:00

Saw thsi little baby onCrescent Street in Montreal Saturday night. Anybody have a guess what one of these costs?

2009-07-11T00:17:00.002-04:00

BLUESFEST OTTAWA 2009

Our first night a Bluesfest...opening act (coming to a great northern town soon) was Mair's own Brock Zeman

Steve Earle followed up with a great two hour set (mostly new/old stuff from his latest Townes VanZandt tribute album). .

2009-07-01T10:08:00.004-04:00

HAPPY CANADA DAY!!!

It's a beautiful day in the neighbourhood......
Our garden has blessed us with an abundance of red for today.

and a surprise of the burgundy clamatis which we usually see in the fall.

2009-06-23T22:01:00.000-04:00

We're still trying to figure out if this is a wildflower or a weed. It's staying in the garden regardless.

2009-06-15T20:13:00.000-04:00

Ottawa has some beautiful religous architecture. Unfortunately, it also has some of the most ugly utility infrastructure.

2009-06-14T17:28:00.000-04:00

A rare picture of Jean (she hates having it taken) enjoying the deck and the Clamatis.

2009-06-11T20:11:00.003-04:00

We inherited a wonderfully productive Clamatis with the house that at present is over ten feet tall.

It provides a very nice shade on the deck in the summer. The bench seat is nearly five feet off the ground.

2009-05-27T17:17:00.001-04:00

Here are some aerial views of the Aardvark Ranch taken from over Trout Lake looking south towards Highway 17, the Trans Canada Highway.

2009-05-20T17:52:00.000-04:00

It was a cold, windy weekend at the Great Northern Cabana. Fortunately, the locals kept Jean and I basking in the warmth of their friendship. Thanks to all for a wonderful time...as usual!

2009-05-10T11:17:00.000-04:00

2009-05-08T20:50:00.000-04:00

It's Tulip time in Ottawa and our garden is blooming.

2009-04-30T18:54:00.000-04:00

Here you go Mr. FKIA, my first blooms of the spring.

2009-04-30T10:14:00.000-04:00

OK Mr. FKIA....here's a picture that I hope reflects the current situation at the Great Northern Cabana. Hopefully, the locals will return shortly and provide us with a more authentic update.

2009-04-07T08:39:00.000-04:00

All I'm thinking about today is the tropical paradise my backyard is becoming. It doesn't snow in paradise!

2009-04-05T09:28:00.000-04:00

With a little luck, I'll be able to enjoy an Ottawa driving range this afternoon (and the rest of the season, a birthday gift from my family). This pic is the Calloway Golf Center in Vegas with the Mandalay Bay and other hotels in the background.

2009-03-30T22:42:00.000-04:00

As I noted on Northern Perspectives, Toronto is starting to resemble the cities of China, in this case Shenzen.

2009-03-23T20:14:00.000-04:00

Where did these cold temperatures come from???? If this doesn't stop, I'm going back to California!

2009-03-19T18:39:00.001-04:00

Since nobody else is posting pictures of the ice receding from the lake, allow me. I wonder if I can get book deal?

2009-03-15T10:03:00.001-04:00

There was only one of these guys left to guard the steeple. Downsizing?

2009-03-14T23:13:00.000-04:00

Can anyone tell me what time it was in Kemptville? It seemed like time was warped for most of the weekend. This might explain the on ice performance....or it could have been the lack of good margaritas.

2009-03-05T19:36:00.001-05:00

I played my second round of golf at the Steele Canyon course outside San Diego hosted by my buddy Rod and his golfing bagmen. After scaring the hell out fo them for a few holes, the dramatic elevation changes got the better of my 'winter' game. Still, a wonderful afternoon and a perfect reason to demand a rematch in the future.

Lesia and Jean enjoy the wine in Laguna Beach under the glow of the propane heaters.

2009-03-04T21:08:00.003-05:00

We drove on to warm sunny California and spent a couple of days with Jean's friend Lesia in Laguna Niguel. Dinner was overlooking the beach, the steak was as good as any I've ever eaten, the wine, exquisite and the friendship superb.

2009-02-28T09:53:00.002-05:00

Jean and the kids get comfortable with the dog.

We continued south after the Hoover Dam and drove to Phoenix where we spent the night with Shannon, Melanie, Aiden and Avery, my former neighbors in California.

2009-02-24T18:46:00.004-05:00

On Tuesday, we headed south to the Hoover Dam. From the canyon walls, you can see how low the water level is (60 feet minimum by my guess). It is really difficult to get a true sense of the scale in these photos everything is so large. The top picture is the new suspension bridge being built over the gorge. The people in the picture are almost imperceptibly small.

2009-02-22T11:19:00.003-05:00

Jean and I are just back from a week in Vegas and points westward. On our final night, we had dinner with business coleagues from Montreal on the patio at mon ami Gabi across the street from the Bellagio and its wonderful fountains. Overhead, the Eiffel Tower....sort of.

Just for Rob, I'll end with this one. The bar was packed with a large group from somewhere who were so loud you could hear them across the street so I can't tell you whether their margaritas are any good but I must say that every one I did have in Vegas was a good one.

2009-02-05T21:05:00.000-05:00

On the weekend, I built a fire in the chimenea, sat in the warm sun and watched the snow melt.

2009-01-29T20:52:00.000-05:00

OK Rob...here's my best HOT (non winter) picture. Jean and I are off to enjoy similar climate in two weeks.

2009-01-24T11:31:00.000-05:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, MR. P!!!

2009-01-03T09:53:00.000-05:00

Jackson doing what he likes best...playing in the snow with his stuffed toys.

2009-01-01T11:44:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year!!!!

2008-12-24T09:06:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas everybody!!

2008-12-17T08:23:00.000-05:00

It's a snowy morning with another 10 cms overnight. I'm so happy to be walking instead of crawling to work in traffic. All we want for Christmas is an end to the bus strike.

2008-12-11T12:08:00.000-05:00

Combine the weather and a strike by the Bus Drivers Union and you have a wonderful way to build up those pre-Christmas stress levels. I'm so thankful that I walk to work each day.

2008-12-10T10:45:00.000-05:00

The red berries are in stark contrast to all the black and white around them.

2008-12-09T07:47:00.000-05:00

In an effort to be more prolific like Rob, I'm starting a series called "On my way to work in the morning". This is what 7 AM looks like today.

2008-11-16T15:16:00.000-05:00

Downtown Ottawa on a warmer evening. I'll post something current when I learn how to capture lightly falling snow.

2008-11-13T18:47:00.000-05:00

I went looking for a picture of somewhere warm and sunny. Found this one of the beach in San Diego from 2003.

2008-10-29T18:27:00.000-04:00

I'm ignoring the snow outside and thinking of warmer times when I really appreciated being in the shade.

2008-10-28T06:57:00.000-04:00

A little splash of color to start the day.

2008-10-27T07:18:00.000-04:00

One last blast of colour from the back yard. It's now a colorful mulch...about ten mulched bags of it.

2008-10-22T20:02:00.000-04:00

A beautiful piece of art if I ever saw one!

2008-10-20T19:52:00.000-04:00

For Rob and all the other old farts still playing hockey taken during a beautiful weekend in Kingston. Saw the Vinyl Cafe live and had a couple of fabulous meals, our wedding gift to our recently married friends Judy and Arnie.

2008-10-12T11:07:00.000-04:00

Nothing is more perfect than a walk in the fall woods with great friends and weather.

2008-10-11T09:54:00.000-04:00

The Gatineau Hills from the Crown Point side of the Ottawa River. The colors are peaking for Thanksgiving Day around here and finally the brilliant reds are showing. I'll get some good shots this weekend as we head to Montreal for the day.

2008-09-11T17:25:00.000-04:00

This whitewater kayak course has been set up in a diversion channel of the Ottawa River as it passes through the EB Eddy paper plant just up river from the Parliament Buildings

2008-09-10T20:35:00.001-04:00

Naan bread, made on the premises at Host India, one of Ottawa's finest restaurants (quality not price). Today is Jean's birthday and this was just part of the surprise evening I had planned for her.

2008-09-04T19:28:00.000-04:00

Rob...I hear you need a new boat. I think something like this would suit you.

2008-08-21T18:09:00.000-04:00

Last Sunday, Jean and I attended a wedding at the National Arts Center. This glass chandelier filled the ceiling of the salon we had dinner in. Congratulations on a great wedding Arnie and Judy.

2008-08-19T19:42:00.000-04:00

This Friday is Home Alone at the Neelin compound south of Ottawa. For some reason, this artpiece outside the NAC reminds me of our annual binge except the guy on the left would be shaking his head in amazement at the stuff grown men will do and call fun.

2008-08-15T21:07:00.001-04:00

Is there a cleat missing or is it the boat?

2008-08-08T09:48:00.000-04:00

Jean an I spent a brief hour on one of the beaches at Wasaga Beach a couple of weeks ago. It was the first time I'd ever been there and I bet it's a blast (and crowded) on a really hot long weekend. Maybe it was Elvisfest in Collingwood but the beach was empty at 7 on a Friday.

2008-08-06T17:52:00.001-04:00

Our afternoon monsoon has brought the garden to life. Water droplets everywhere, on my mini roses and on our sole late summer clamatis

2008-08-01T22:12:00.000-04:00

Marsha's Garden

2008-07-29T22:39:00.000-04:00

I'll post some Rob shots while he's travelling west. This is the fifth cleat down the right side.

2008-07-22T23:04:00.001-04:00

I never get tired of the view from the end of Rob's dock. That's my property about a 500 metres onshore the other side.